Category Archives: Catholicism

Some Roman Catholic churchmen are maintaining that the words “hokey pokey” derive from “hocus pocus” — the Oxford English Dictionary concurs — and that the song of the same name was written by 18th-century Puritans to mock the language of the Latin Mass. The Catholic Church in Scotland, concerned that some soccer fans were using the song as a taunt, have now raised the possibility that singing it should be prosecuted as a hate crime.

I agree that singing the “Hokey Pokey” should be a crime, but not for the reasons they maintain. I think it should be a crime because of the annoyance factor and the simple inanity of the song. If the singing of the song constitutes a hate crime, it’s not because of the lyrics, but rather, that it’s so easy to hate anyone who sings it.

Then I must also wonder, “Does that make Hokey Pokey Ice Cream a Hate Food?” Just asking.

I guess until this challenge brought on by the Catholic Church is decided, it looks like the Hokey Pokey really is what it’s all about.

So for those keeping score at home about Catholicism:Singing ‘The Hokey Pokey’ = a Hate Crime. Raping a child = job transfer to a brand new parish